boas] TSIMSHIAN SOCIETY 557 



their faces also. Men have women's faces, and women have men's 

 faces, during the singing. This is the work and the power of Lu-na- 

 gisKm gad." ' 



Mala (Moving Quickly). — When this supernatural power is called, 

 the chief jumps up and says, "Now everybody must move." Then 

 all the. people jump up and shout " Whoo!" That means "go ahead!" 

 They sit down again. The chief sings his solo, accompanied by his 

 rattle and one whistle of Mala. Then the mask comes out. Its eyes 

 move around while the wearer is walking around the fire. 



Txa-la'ksgum lax-ha' (All The Lights Of Heaven). — When this power 

 is called, the chief sings his solo. The whistle of the mask is heard. 

 The chief swings his rattle, and the drum is being beaten quickly. 

 At the end of the solo the chief is hidden behind the curtain; and 

 when the curtain is withdrawn and the singing resumed, the chief 

 comes forward with his face blackened with charcoal made of cedar, 

 wearing on his head a representation of the ears of a grizzly bear 

 with long hair on top. He also wears a grizzly-bear blanket, dancing- 

 apron, and leggings. He shakes his head going around the fire, while 

 the drum is being beaten. "The song of this enchantment is very 

 hard beating (all the time). Some beats are two at a time, and some 

 beats quick as the rolling of thunder; and the chief's head moves 

 according to the beating of the drum. These people sing louder than 

 any one else among the Tsimshian." ' The chief goes around, look- 

 ing sharply into every face. When he reaches the front of the large 

 fire, he takes up something from the ground and hides it under his 

 grizzly-bear blanket. After he has gone around the fire, he shows 

 the people tho representation of a large piece, of quartz about eighteen 

 inches long. At the end of the song he throws his song into one of 

 the princes. 



Txal-ks-ga'gum lax-ha' (First Of Heaven). — This is the first super- 

 natural power that is called in the ceremonial of initiation. They 

 call it with the words "Great power Txal-ks-ga'gum lax-ha', open 

 the powers of heaven for the supernatural helpers of these great 

 chiefs!" Then this chief sings his solo, walks towards the door of the 

 house carrying a beautiful cane in his right hand, which is given by 

 the chief who invites all the other chiefs. Then he walks slowly 

 around the fire, uttering a long shout, "Ohi!" When he reaches the 

 place from which he started, he stands there and takes a rest, while 

 all the people shout, "III, hi!" During this time the drum is beaten and 

 the people clap their hands, ending their shouts with four raps and 

 short cries of 'Hi, hi, hi, hi!" Then the chief starts again, walks around 

 the fire as before. This is repeated four times. After the last time, 

 he raises his face to Heaven, opens his mouth, and shouts, while he 

 is turning around four times where he stands. Then the people take 



' 1 quote here from Mr. Tate almost literally, because the description is notclear. 



